Great music lays its foundation

It was a night of storytelling at Turner Hall relayed with two distinct accents: the
Southern Gothic flavored Rock of the Drive-by Truckers and the Pacific Coast
folk/country flavored with more than a touch of funk of Blitzen Trapper.

Opening the evening was Portland, Oregon's Blitzen Trapper with their self-described
"Rocky Mountain Whoop-ass" style which is an joyful mix of Americana often
reminiscent of 1960's and 70's influences Neil Young, The Band, Dylan among others
that has been spun into their own distinctive flavor of Americana Roots based music.

Eric Earley fronts the group as lead vocal and primary writer but this band is a
collaborative group on stage with instrumentals and vocals being shared by all
members: Erik Menteer on guitar, Brian Adrian Koch on drums, Michael Van Pelt on
bass and Marty Marquis on keyboard.

The set this evening included new songs from their latest album, VII mixed with some
of their older pieces. "Feel The Chill" and "Thirsty Man" tell stories in a darkness
that speaks to Drive-By Truckers fans yet comes from such a different place
musically that they made a refreshing addition as the opener. Vocal harmonies and
over-all sound harkened back to Levon Helm style rootsy rock goodness in "Jericho"
and "Big Black Bird." A great cover of "Rocky Mountain Way" got the heads bopping
throughout the house.

Drive-by Truckers are touring in support of English Oceans, released this month,
which is a return back to the band's rock and roll foundation from their diversion
into the Muscle Shoals sound in their previous release Go-Go Boots. Although their
live performances generally have been equally divided between the two founders
Patterson Hood and Mike Cooley, this latest release is the first to include as much
of Cooley's songs as Hood's. English Oceans was well covered in a set that included
nine of the 13 album songs such as "When He's Gone," "Pauline Hawkins" and "Shit
Shots Count."

The crowd started thinning out rather early. Perhaps that is why this band that
routinely plays three hour sets was done in two. Still there was plenty of room in
the solid two hour set to give fans a good selection of older favorites like "3
Dimes Down," "Heathens" and "Women Without Whiskey" before closing the main set
with Hood's raw rocker "Hell No, I Ain't Happy."

The band came back for a four number encore ending with "Grand Canyon" which was
written after the sudden death of band friend and longtime merch guy Craig Lieske.
Towards the end of the song, Hood got down on the floor to let out a powerful dirge
through his guitar before leaving the stage while the rest of the band played on.
Each member left the stage one by one until the only member still playing was the
drummer who ended the show when he put his sticks down and left the stage.

Blitzen Trapper and Drive-By Truckers Set Lists:

Blitzen Trapper Set List:

Fletcher
Feel The Chill
Thirsty Man
Jericho
Love The Way You Walk Away
Black River Killer
Furr
Valley of Death
Rocky Mountain Way
Big Black Bird

Drive-By Truckers Set List:

3 Dimes Down
When He's Gone
Sounds Better In The Song
Heathens
Primer Coat
The Part Of Him
Til He's Dead Or Rising
Pauline Hawkins
Women Without Whiskey
Feb 14
Hearing Jimmy Loud
Ronnie And Neil
72 (This Highway's Mean)
Lookout Mountain
Made Up English Oceans
Girls Who Smoke
Birthday Boy
Hell No, I Ain't Happy